Improvement in water-proof covers for coffins



G. W. ROBINSON.

WATER-PROOF COVERS FOR COFFINS. No.183,974. Patented on. 31. 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. ROBINSON, OF BENNINGTON CENTRE, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-PROOF COVERS FOR COFFINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,974, dated October 31, 1876; application filed July 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. ROBIN- SON, of Bennington Centre, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Covers for Ooffins, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon. I

In many localities the ground set apart as a burial-place for thedead is saturated with moisture to such an extent as to greatly hasten decomposition and decay; and it frequently happens that when the grave is opened the inflow of water is sufficient to completely submerge the coffin lowered therein.

Under such circumstances it is apparent that the burial-case, as well as its contained corpse, will soon be destroyed-a reflection peculiarly painful to the friends of the de ceased, and a circumstance extremely disadvantageous to those who may desire that the corpse be removed and reinterred.

The object of my invention is to protect the burial-case and its contents from the effects of moisture; and it (the invention) consists, first, in combining with said case or coflin a water-proof cover; and, second, in providing a simple, cheap, and effective means for securing the open end of said cover after the coffin has been enveloped therein, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coffin having my improved cover or shroud applied thereto; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the seal or fastening device in place; and Fig. 3, an axial section, exhibiting the fastening in detail.

A represents the coffin, and B its waterproof cover or shroud. This cover is separate and removable from the coffin, and may be made of fibrous material saturated with indiarubber, of rubber alone, or of any substance impervious to water. I prefer that it shall be of flexible or elastic material, in order that it may be drawn over the burial-case and conform very nearly to the shape thereof, thus rendering the device more acceptable on account of its appearance. It is preferably made in the shape of a bag, through the open end of which the coffin may be readily insorted.

For securing the open end of the cover after the coffin has been inclosed, any suitable fastening may be adopted, as, for instance, an india-rubber cap cemented to the shroud, it being only necessary that the joint be made water-tight.

The device illustrated in the drawing is believed to be best adapted for this purpose, both on account of the facility with which it may be applied and the ease with which it may be unfastened and the cover removed, as will in some instances be desirable.

A disk or washer, b, of rubber, is placed over the contracted opening in the cover, being held in position by the face-plate of the thumb-piece C. It should be made amply large to cover said opening. The screw 0 enters the head of the coffin, and serves to draw the face-plate tightly against the washer,thus compressing both the washer and the adjacent part of the coffin-shroud.

When properly applied, this joint will be found to be thoroughly effective, and to admirably answer the purposes and objects of the invention.

The utility and desirability of a water-proof cover for coffins, substantially such as the above is intended to be, are sufficiently obvious without further comment.

I am aware that bodies for burial have heretofore been placed in flexible sacks, and I do not desire to be understood as laying any claim to such sacks or such uses of them; but,

Having now fully described my invention, what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a coffin, A, of a water-proof cover or shroud, removable therefrom and adapted, by means of a watertight securing device, to prevent contact of water with said coffin, for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the screw pin 0, secured in the head of the coffin A, rubber washer b, and screw-nut O, with the shroud or sack B, in the manner and for the purpose described.

GEORGE W. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

L. A. GRAVES, GEO. J. GRAVES. 

